Top 5 Minimotos For Houston
What makes the modern minimoto even more special is its ability to reach such a wide audience. Whether you’re looking for a nonintimidating introduction to motorcycling, the perfect campsite commuter, or a lightweight, affordable, and fun bike for running errands, there’s almost certainly a bike out there for you.
Much of the category’s resurgence is, of course, owed to Honda and its ultra-successful Grom. The Grom is still the champ, but it's success has led to greater options. Below is a look at 5 great street-legal minimotos currently on the market.
Honda leaned into its small-bore roots to produce the 2014 Grom, simultaneously capturing the hearts of new riders and everyone who grew up riding Trail 70s. Immediate success led to a steady stream of updates to the platform, Honda doing its best to recognize how customers were using the bike and then adjusting the formula accordingly.
Honda’s Grom is the leader of the pack when it comes to minimotos. The latest version is centered on an easily customizable design and refined, 124cc engine.
The third-generation Grom is the perfect example. Honda recognized the aftermarket community being built around the bike and designed this latest version to be easily customizable. Body panels and hardware aren’t just “bold and new,” but designed to be easily removed as you build your version of the perfect Grom.
Other highlights of the third-generation Grom include the recently introduced five-speed transmission, a flat seat that accommodates varying rider heights, sufficiently sized 1.6-gallon fuel tank, and LCD display that keeps the Grom looking fresh in a category that’s all about style.
The 2023 Grom is available as a base model for $3,499, or with ABS (and more stylish Pearl White paint) for $3,799.
If the Grom was Honda leaning into its small-bore roots, then the Trail 125 is the company putting all of its weight on that minibike history. Park a Trail 125 next to a 1984 Trail 110 and it’s hard to spot the differences, Honda’s design team having almost perfectly matched the lines of the original in their attempt to pluck the heartstrings of anyone familiar with the Trail’s history.
Modern technology meets classic design. Park a Trail 125 (left) beside its predecessor, a 1984 Honda Trail 110 (right), and it’s hard to spot the differences.
Even those who don’t have a built-in soft spot for early CTs will appreciate the modern Trail 125. The SUV of today’s minimoto category, the bike is based on Honda’s own Super Cub but with model-specific features that give you the confidence to venture off the beaten path. Things like ground clearance, suspension travel, and low-end torque have all been taken into account. The result is a bike that’s equally fun whether you’re running errands or exploring the outer bounds of your campground. Credit the semi-automatic transmission for making the “running errands” part a much easier task.
No, the Trail 125 won’t replace your adventure bike or enduro-ready dual sport, but at $3,999, it’ll have you smiling as you bounce down nearby fire roads.
Honda changed America’s perception of motorcycles and motorcyclists with its “You meet the nicest people on a Honda” campaign, which was built around the then-49cc Super Cub C100. The small-displacement motorcycle was fun, cheap, and didn’t attempt to be tough or badass. Continuously manufactured by Honda since 1958 for numerous world markets, production numbers of the Super Cub have long since surpassed 100 million, making it the highest-selling motor vehicle of all time.
Hidden behind the Super Cub’s classic styling, modern technology offers superb ride quality and convenience for everyday riding.
That’s important to point out, only because the modern Super Cub C125 is built around the same ethos. Featuring classic Super Cub styling with an S-letter silhouette and step-through design, the Super Cub uses Honda’s quiet and fuel-efficient 124cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine, fuel injection, a comfortable seat, and ABS brakes.
The Monkey was one of Honda’s first attempts at taking the Grom and updating the design to celebrate legendary minibikes like the Z50A, a bike that helped countless kids get their start in motorcycling. The concept worked, and suddenly there was an even wider audience coming into Honda dealers to look at minimotos. Reliving your childhood is fun, after all.
If looking at the Honda Monkey doesn’t put a smile on your face, then riding one will. This is Honda celebrating its minibike roots, but making sure the experience is as you’d expect from a modern motorcycle.
The Monkey isn’t just a styling exercise, as Honda continues to update the bike alongside its minimoto counterparts. For example, the Monkey shares key engine specs with the current-generation Grom, including a smaller bore and longer stroke (50mm x 63.1mm versus the previous 52.4mm x 57.9mm) for more low- and midrange grunt. It also uses Honda’s latest five-speed transmission, for comfortable cruising.
Styling is where the Monkey stands out from the competition, its soft, curved surface a stark contrast from the sporty lines of the Grom. Rather celebrate motorcycling history than head to the kart track and go minimoto racing? This might be the bike for you.
The Honda Navi fills an interesting void between Honda’s scooter and minimoto lineups, but that’s hardly the most interesting thing about this 109cc, fully automatic minibike; the real highlight is that the Navi sells for just $1,807. And while that low price tag means the Navi isn’t outfitted with the latest technology or high-end hardware, this minimoto has some neat convenience features, like the 15-liter keyed storage compartment that’s big enough to fit a small bag of groceries, or whatever other items you need to haul around town.
Honda’s Navi blurs the lines between scooter and motorcycle in an aim to make motorcycling more accessible than ever. That all starts with a low MSRP of just $1,807.
The 109cc engine is carbureted and the gauge cluster looks outdated, but the Navi gets a claimed 110 mpg and zips around city streets with ease. Thanks to its motorcyclelike layout, with footpegs and a rear brake pedal, it appeals to those who want the convenience of a scooter but the style of a motorcycle.
Like its “bigger” siblings, the Navi has a comfortable layout for riders of all sizes and won’t leave you feeling pretzeled by the ergos. It accelerates up to 45 mph pretty quickly, and 55 mph is possible if you wait long enough.